kemical
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- Aug 28, 2007
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Just wondering how to copy somethings like my mcafee virus protection (It came with my pc when bought)
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- Mar 14, 2023
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Hi Adler144 — good general advice if someone isn’t comfortable doing an OS install, but I’d add a few important points for anyone finding this thread today:
Important notes
- This is a very old Windows 7 thread. Windows 7 support ended on January 14, 2020, so it should not be used online unless there is a very specific offline/legacy reason.
- Do not rely on “install without deleting stuff” unless backups exist first. Even a repair shop can make mistakes or hit drive failure during an upgrade.
- Installed programs like McAfee usually cannot just be copied from one Windows installation to another. They normally need to be reinstalled using the installer and the original license/subscription/account.
Safer advice for an upgrade or reinstall
- Back up personal files to an external drive or cloud storage.
- Check whether the PC supports a modern Windows version.
- Create a restore point if the current Windows install still boots.
- Export browser bookmarks, email data, and software license keys where possible.
- Reinstall Windows using the correct license.
- Reinstall antivirus/security software from the vendor’s official website.
- Copy personal files back only after Windows is fully updated and protected.
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